Sugar The Bitter Truth for Your Family

(Written by Elle Yi) High fructose corn syrup(HFCS) is a significant component in impulsive behaviors for people of all ages today. The diets for many kids today include daily sodas, ketchup and fruit juices that are packed with high fructose corn syrup.

Dr. Robert Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at UCSF, did a presentation recently discussing how the biochemical negative feedback system in human beings is out of whack (after consuming foods the system tells the brain “I am done eating and now is the time to burn more calories for energy”). Fructose tricks your body into gaining weight by deceiving your metabolism. It turns off human body’s appetite-control system.

He predominantly focused on fructose and even revealed that fructose can be a poison. However, where fructose is found in nature there exists adequate amounts of fiber. Parents need to recognize the differences between natural fructose and processed fructose.

The following information has been gleaned from a 90-minute video titled Sugar the bitter truth, by Dr Robert Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California.

Fructose is processed by the liver. That’s the reason why it doesn’t appear to change the blood glucose levels. Compared with glucose, fructose is metabolized primarily in the liver. Therefore, high fructose corn syrup is processed to the point of toxicity.

Glucose is broken down by every cell in the body, whereas fructose is metabolized primarily by the liver. Glucose goes straight to glycogen repletion and fructose is metabolized by the liver. The fructose is digested only in a liver because only liver can metabolize it.

Furthermore, his research shows that fructose is metabolized much more like alcohol than glucose and makes a contribution to liver damage. Fructose isn’t the majority “concentrated sugar” in either honey or fruit. Fructose is equivalent to alcohol consumption except it does not affect the brain in ways we can detect.

In 1966, a scientist in Japan discovered the way to separate high fructose corn syrup from corn. High fructose corn syrup has been added to make foods tastier. It really is the quantity of consumption and also the context in which children consume HFCS that represents an issue. The problem is extremely linked with children obesity. The rats in the Princeton study became obese by drinking high fructose corn syrup.

Dr. Robert Lustig highlights the true concern is not high fructose corn syrup alone. He is particularly critical with the extensive usage of high fructose corn syrup in the United States. High fructose corn syrup is only cheaper since the US pumps massive subsidies into the corn industry.

When he talks about being able to show that fructose is a poison. Fruit juice can’t possibly be healthy. Juices and juice boxes are usually high fructose corn syrup, so make sure kids are having boxes marked,”100% fruit juice.” Also, snack bars, candy and many other snacks contain this syrup.

Even parents might be having it innocently, while eating pasta, seasoning with Worcester sauce, or dipping something into ketchup. If children are hyperactive, not able to concentrate or frequently exhausted, make sure to evaluate the ingredients of everything he or she eats. It’s possible for parents to discover that a significant decrease in high fructose corn syrup may cause a substantial improvement in great behavior.

Parents can consider these tips below to lower high fructose corn syrup:

Avoid sugary sodas. Drink water or other unsweetened beverages instead

Select breakfast cereals very carefully. Even though nutritious breakfast cereals can contain added sugar to make them more appealing to children, skip the non-nutritious, sugary and frosted cereals

Eat fewer processed and packaged foods, such as cookies, cakes and some microwaveable meals.